20 years old, Elf Magician - prefers the quiet activities of Enchanting, but is capable of Sorcery and Summoning

Nica has been raised from birth to replace her grandmother as the area Magic Leader, but as she has gotten older she realizes she doesn't want the responsibility. As part of her initiation activities, she is on a quest to learn more about the magics native to other countries and cultures. She has been raised in Hong Kong, with her only vacations in Japan. Her quest will be her first forays into the world at large - she has been very insulated by her family and the training she's received to date.

Nica is not particularly distinctive herself, she is simply average and forgettable in her looks. She has an average personality to match her average looks - she doesn't have a strong presence which also precludes her from leading people. That being said, her fortitude to do what she wants is strong. If the activity is of interest to her, she will go out of her way to make it happen.

Sphere of Influence: (6 points to spend, max 3, min 0 across these three):

• Corporate / Media - 1
• Aristocracy / Magical Society - 3
• Shadows / Underworld - 2

Resources: (6 points to spend, max 3, min 0 across these three)

• Mundane - 3
• Magical - 3
• Matrix - 0

6x Connection 5 or 6 contacts (probably should be based around your sphere of influence points above). Any number of connection 4 or lower contacts (don’t worry about listing these now but the more information you can give me the better!). You don’t need to determine loyalty, that will be up to me and the background info you give me on each contact.

Mama Lu - grandmother, matriarch and magic leader - Raising Nica to replace her as magic leader. Doesn't like Nica's activities which take away time from her training, but is very much in favor of her 1st level magic initiation.

Cho - Johnson - friend of family who has asked Nica to support certain activities with her skillsets. Mama Lu has requested Cho to use Nica wherever possible to provide her with practical training.

Marge - Yakuza leader - during "visit" to Japan while taking care of some business for Cho, Nica "stumbled upon Marge as a contact. Specifically, Nica found herself in an MCT-owned facility where Marge herself provided Nica with a "bump" in her activities. The work didn't actually conflict with Marge, so Nica and Marge spent some time together. Marge found herself charmed by this uninspiring girl and has kept in touch.

Samuel Chen - Shiawase Stockholder Vice-Chairman Board of Directors - Friend of Mama Lu, has become another "grandparent" to Nica

Wu Li - Wuxing Executive - high ranking member of Mama Lu's magic group and occasional teacher

Mentor Spirit - Fire-Bringer
Spirit Affinity - Air Spirits
Focused Concentration 6

Allergy (High) - Gold (all jewelry is platinum)
Combat Paralysis
Incompetent - Outdoor skill group
Prejudiced (Biased, Specific) - those from old money who don't work

Given your positions of power you have access to more or less whatever you want here (essence limits still apply). Obvious combat mods and more extreme ware will have social stigma attached to them, after all, you are mixing with the kinds of people who get others to do their dirty work for them. You get free luxury lifestyles in various locations, this is a chance to go to town on the details of decadent living that most runners can only dimly dream of!

Nica retains more than adequate supplies of reagents for feeding spirits, supporting her spellcasting, summoning and alchemical activities. She also created her own force 6 foci, all of which are benign, but nice looking, platinum jewelry (this assumes she has a magic of 6):

saphhire ring (left hand pinkie) - Enchanting-Alchemical Focus,
sapphire choker necklace - Power Focus,
ruby anklet (left ankle)- Spell-Counterspelling Focus,
emerald anklet (right ankle) - Spirit-Summoning Focus,
diamond ring (right hand ring) - Spirit-Banishing Focus,
platinum bracklet (left wrist) - Enchanting-Disenchanting Focus

Speaking of dirty work; you will have access to an entourage (1-3 key N/PCs) that will allow you to undertake more dubious activities that you wouldn’t normally get involved in (there will be some opportunities for shadowrunner type activity in the game). Don’t worry, I don’t expect stats for these extras (unless you really want to), a small background write-up will be sufficient and then we will base them on pre-genned characters from the rulebooks or from the forums.

Matthew Jackson - information guru - uses that matrixie stuff - He is tasked with Nica's arrangements and communications. She hates anything related to computers/matrix and fully relies on Matthew to protect her music and messages files - in addition to other more important matters. While Matthew's cyber & bioware are only to enhance his mental faculties - nothing is overt as he knows that offends Nica's family.

Thom O'Leary - bodyguard - Long time "employee" of the family, he has been asked to protect Nica from herself while travelling. He is very skilled in all forms of defense and combat - whatever knowledge he needs to protect, he has made sure to learn, optimizing his adept powers.

Ralina - right hand - best friend growing up - Educated together in the mundane world, they became "partners in crime" for many practical jokes and adolescent adventures. Ralina was given the opportunity to receive magical training along with Nica due to their close relationship. Separately, Mama Lu spoke with Ralina informing her that she will be trained with the expectation of supporting Nica when she replaces her (Mama Lu). Ralina was expected to become highly skilled in all magic knowledge and skills. Ralina took this early conversation to heart and has fully supported Nica. Nica doesn't know about Ralina's responsibilities from Mama Lu.

Lorena - left hand - mentor and former nanny - Lorena, sometimes referred to as Mama Lo or Mama Lorena, was Nica and Ralina's primary teacher when Mama Lu could not devote the time. She was Nica's nanny while young, and transitioned to teacher and mentor as she grew up. Lorena has been changed with ensuring Ralina has sufficient knowledge and skills to support Nica.